Method for security inspection and kit of parts with a detachable single-use inlay for an X-ray tray

ABSTRACT

A method for security inspection of baggage and/or personal items and a kit of parts include a detachable single-use inlay and an X-ray tray of a security check, for example, at an airport. A single-use inlay as such is also described. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to use of the kit of parts and/or the single-use inlay for the prevention of transfer of pathogenic agents. At least one metal organic framework (MOF) provided on the outer side and/or inner side of the single-use inlay is adapted and arranged to detect at least one explosive or any other hazardous compound, and/or detect at least one drug.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a method for security inspection of baggageand/or personal items, in particular to prevent the transfer ofpathogenic agents from an X-ray tray to baggage and/or personal itemsand a method for security inspection of baggage and/or personal items toprevent the illicit transport of explosives and/or drugs. Thisdisclosure also relates to a kit of parts with a detachable single-useinlay comprising a paper and/or polymer layer and an X-ray tray of asecurity check at an airport. In addition, this disclosure relates to akit of parts with a detachable single-use inlay with a paper and/orpolymer layer and a second layer comprising metal organic frameworks andan X-ray tray. It also relates to both embodiments of the single-useinlay as such. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to a use of saidkits of parts and/or single-use inlays for the prevention of transfer ofpathogenic agents and/or detection of illicit transport of explosivesand/or drugs.

Description of the Related Art

The dangers of pathogenic agents are well known in the art. Airports andrailway stations are hubs for spreading various kinds of diseases asmany passengers from different locations come in close contact in oneplace. Passengers usually transfer pathogenic agents directly byperson-to-person contact and droplet spread or indirectly by contactwith contaminated objects.

WO 2015 041 619 A1 relates to the prevention of the mass spread ofinfectious microbes at baggage conveyors available in public areas byapplying an antibacterial cast and solvent foil on the surfaces ofbaggage conveyor belts.

Other common measures to avoid a transfer of pathogenic agents includewashing hands, wearing gloves or other protection equipment, andregularly wiping surfaces. It was found that some of these measures aredifficult to implement during travel and others are not as effective asintended.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims at decreasing the danger of spreadingdiseases at airports or other public or private facilities. In variousaspects, the disclosure provides improved methods and a kit of parts forpreventing an indirect transfer of pathogenic agents. In variousaspects, the disclosure also provides methods and a kit of parts thatallow a high throughput of passengers in spite of said countermeasuresto prevent spreading of pathogenic agents, i.e., said countermeasuresare practicable without significant loss of time.

Another major problem at airports or other public places is thesmuggling of prohibited drugs, including narcotics, especially hidden inluggage. Currently, if drug smuggling is suspected, the baggage has tobe checked individually by an airport employee, which is very timeconsuming. Another method for detecting drugs is the use of drugsniffing dogs, although they are still used too little to be able tocheck the huge amount of baggage at the airport.

The risk of transporting explosives at airports or other public placessuch as railway stations or trade fairs is also a known problem. Theclosure of these public places when lost luggage is found, due to thepotential danger of containing explosives, regularly paralyses air orrail traffic for several hours. At present, there is also no fast,effective method for the early detection of explosives that does notendanger the lives of people or explosive detection dogs.

The present disclosure relates to a method for security inspection ofbaggage and/or personal items. In at least one embodiment, the methodcomprises the steps of:

a. providing an, in particular plastic, X-ray tray having a depositionarea;

b. attaching a single-use inlay to said X-ray tray to cover saiddeposition area, said single-use inlay comprising a paper and/or polymerlayer having an outer side and an inner side, in particular wherein thepaper and/or polymer layer has an essentially circumferential fringearea that grasps and/or covers the edge of said X-ray tray;

c. putting the baggage and/or personal items onto the single-use inlay,in particular without direct contact to the X-ray tray;

d. X-ray scanning said baggage and/or personal items disposed in saidX-ray tray, in particular wherein the X-ray tray is moved by at leastone belt conveyor into and out of the scanning area;

e. removing the baggage and/or personal items from said single-useinlay; and

f. detaching said single-use inlay from said X-ray tray.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step(s)of:

g. disposing of said single-use inlay in a waste container, inparticular for recycling; and/or

h. crushing, melting and/or shredding of the single-use inlay, inparticular wherein the material of the single-use inlay is recycled.

According to some embodiments of the method, the paper and/or polymerlayer, in particular the elastic polymer layer, is secured to the X-raytray by stretching it over an, in particular protruding, edge of saidX-ray tray, wherein said paper and/or polymer layer preferably contractsat or below said edge, in particular on an exterior side of the X-raytray.

According to another embodiment, the method for security inspectionaccording to the present disclosure is also characterized in that atleast one metal organic framework (MOF) is provided on said outer sideand/or on said inner side, in particular on said inner side, adapted andarranged to detect at least one explosive or any other hazardouscompound and/or wherein at least one metal organic framework (MOF) isprovided on said outer side and/or on said inner side adapted andarranged to detect at least one drug, in particular cocaine, heroin,cannabis, or the like. In the meaning of the present disclosure, theterm “metal-organic framework” (MOF) preferably refers to a one, two, orthree dimensional polymer including both organic and metal or metaloxide structural units, where at least one of the metal units is bondedto least one bi-, tri- or poly-dentate organic unit. In accordance withprinciples of the present disclosure, metal organic frameworks can beused as sorbents to detect various chemical substances and/or theirprecursors. Exemplary metal organic frameworks may include at least oneof Zn-MOF₁, Zn-MOF₂, Zn-MOF₃, Zn-MOF₄, Zn-MOF₅, Cu-MOF₁, Cu-MOF₂,Tb-MOF₁, Tb-MOF₁, Cd-MOF₁, Cd-MOF₂, Cd-MOF₃, Co-MOF₁, Co-MOF₂, Zn-MOF₆,MOF-₅, Cu(_(4,4)′-bpy)1.5NO₃(H₂O)1.25 IRMOF₂, [Cu₃(TMA)₂]n,[Cu(OH)—(C₅H₄NCO₂], MOF-₃₈, Ag(_(4,4)′-bpy)NO₃, IRMOF₃, and IRMOF₇.

In this regard it has been found advantageous that the at least onemetal organic framework is provided on said outer side and/or on saidinner side by way of printing, in particular using a transparent dye.Alternatively, said paper and/or polymer layer is provided on its outerside and/or on its inner side, in particular on its inner side, withanother layer, in particular polymer layer, comprising at least onemetal organic framework. According to another embodiment, said paperand/or polymer layer is provided on its outer side and/or on its innerside, in particular on its inner side, with an, in particulartransparent, coating comprising at least one metal organic framework.According to another alternative, said paper and/or polymer layer canalso be provided on its outer side (3) and/or on its inner side (4), inparticular on its inner side (4), with an, in particular transparent,sticker comprising at least one metal organic framework.

According to a further embodiment, the at least one metal organicframework is adapted and arranged to provide a color signal undervisible, UV, or IR light once it has captured an explosive, any otherhazardous compound, or a drug.

Hereinafter a kit of parts is described. Although various combinationsof single-use inlays and X-ray trays are in principle suitable for theabove-described method, in various embodiments of the method in step b.the detachable single-use inlay and the X-ray tray is a kit of partsand/or single-use inlay as described hereinafter.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, saidkit of parts comprises a detachable single-use inlay and an X-ray tray,in particular an X-ray tray adapted for a security check at an airportor other public facility or at an private facility, the detachablesingle-use inlay comprising an, in particular flexible, paper and/orpolymer layer having an outer side and an inner side, in particularwherein the paper and/or polymer layer has an essentiallycircumferential fringe area adapted to grasp and/or cover the edges ofsaid X-ray tray.

According to some embodiments, the detachable single-use inlay comprisesa protective cover and has a compressed state in which the paper and/orpolymer layer is compressed, in particular folded, within saidprotective cover, and a decompressed state, in which the paper and/orpolymer layer is decompressed, in particular unfolded.

According to some embodiments, in the compressed state the length andwidth of the single-use inlay is reduced by at least 50%, in particularby at least 75%, preferably by at least 90%, and/or in the compressedstate the length and width of the single-use inlay is smaller than 10cm, preferably smaller than 5 cm.

According to some embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layer is anon-adhesive detachable layer that is attachable by stretching saidessentially circumferential fringe area over the edges of said X-raytray.

According to some embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layer iswatertight.

According to some embodiments, the polymer layer comprises or is apolymer foil made of polyethylene or polypropylene, preferablychlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

According to some preferred embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layerhas an average material strength of 10 to 200 μm, preferably an averagematerial strength of 20 to 100 μm, particularly preferred an averagematerial strength of 30 to 70 μm.

According to some embodiments, the essentially circumferential fringearea comprises an elastic band.

According to some preferred embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layeris coated on the outer and/or inner side with an antibacterialcomposition and/or an antibacterial composition is part of the materialof the paper and/or polymer layer.

According to some embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layer istransparent for X-rays and/or visible light.

The disclosure also relates to a single-use inlay as described abovethat is adapted for an X-ray tray, in particular an X-ray tray asdescribed for the kit of parts.

The disclosure also relates to a use of said kit of parts and/orsingle-use inlay as described above to prevent the transfer ofpathogenic agents from an X-ray tray of a security check to baggageand/or personal items.

Some embodiments relate to the use of said kit of parts and/orsingle-use inlay during X-ray screening in an airport of baggage and/orpersonal items disposed in the X-ray tray on the single-use inlay.

Security checks are known in the art, e.g., from airports or whenentering a building that contains sensitive information. Often securitychecks comprise a narrow passage where passengers are scanned. Baggageand/or personal items are usually scanned separately, e.g., using anX-ray scanner of comparatively high intensity. The security check may bea security gate for checking baggage and/or personal items in search forweapons, drugs, bombs or other prohibited items using said X-rayscanner. The present disclosure helps in preventing a transmission ofpathogenic agents in this specific field from an X-ray tray to baggageand/or personal items and also from baggage and/or personal items to anX-ray tray.

The present disclosure also relates to a method for security inspectionof baggage and/or personal items, the method comprising the steps of, inparticular in this order:

a. providing an, in particular plastic, X-ray tray having a depositionarea;

b. attaching an, in particular disposable, flexible and/or elastic,single-use inlay to said X-ray tray to cover said deposition area, saidsingle-use inlay comprising a paper and/or polymer layer having an outerside and an inner side, in particular wherein the paper and/or polymerlayer has an, in particular elastic, essentially circumferential fringearea that grasps and/or covers the edge of said X-ray tray;

c. putting the baggage and/or personal items onto the single-use inlay,in particular without direct contact to the X-ray tray;

d. X-ray scanning said baggage and/or personal items disposed in saidX-ray tray, in particular wherein the X-ray tray is moved by at leastone belt conveyor into and out of the scanning area;

e. removing the baggage and/or personal items from said single-useinlay;

f. detaching said single-use inlay from said X-ray tray;

g. preferably disposing of said single-use inlay in a waste container,in particular for recycling; and

h. preferably crushing, melting and/or shredding of the single-useinlay, in particular wherein the material of the single-use inlay isrecycled.

It was found that with the above described single-use inlay, a transferfrom bacteria from the X-ray tray commonly used at security checks canbe prevented. Said X-ray trays are provided to dispose baggage and/orpersonal items therein when they are transported, e.g., on a conveyorbelt, and scanned using X-ray based scanning machines. Said X-ray traysare touched by hundreds if not thousands of passengers. Shoes are putinto said X-ray trays and have pathogenic agents attached to the shoesoles. Multiple personal items, such as used handkerchiefs, money,belts, jackets, tablets, laptops and watches are disposed in said X-raytrays. The result is that said X-ray trays may inevitably be heavilycontaminated with pathogenic agents. The detachable single-use inlay maybe used to prevent a transfer of pathogenic agents from the X-ray traysto baggage and/or personal items or vice versa. An X-ray tray inaccordance with this disclosure relates to a tray for baggage and/orpersonal items that is used for transporting said baggage and/orpersonal items through an X-ray based scanning machine, i.e., a trayadapted for the X-ray based scanning process. Often a plastic tray ofsuitable size is made use of. Trays made solely out of metal oftencannot be used as they may prevent X-ray detection of dangerous itemswithin baggage or dangerous personal items using said X-ray basedscanning machine.

In some embodiments of the method the paper and/or polymer layer issecured to the X-ray tray by stretching it over an, in particularprotruding, edge of said X-ray tray, wherein the paper and/or polymerlayer preferably contracts at or below said edge, in particular on anexterior side of the X-ray tray. The X-ray tray may be any kind oftransport tray suitable for transporting baggage and/or personal itemsthrough a X-ray baggage scanner, in particular a plastic transport trayof suitable size for baggage.

In some embodiments, the method of the present disclosure is a methodfor security inspection of passenger's baggage and/or personal items atan airport. It may also be a method for security inspection at anentrance of a school, courthouse, football stadium, soccer stadium,railway station or any other public buildings or areas that may requireenhanced security, in particular where there is an increased danger ofterrorist attacks and/or where large groups of people come together. Itmay also be implemented at private facilities, in particular privatefacilities which are not accessible to the general public.

In some embodiments of the method, after disposing of the single-useinlay, the method comprises the step of crushing, melting and/orshredding of the single-use inlay, in particular wherein the material ofthe single-use inlay is recycled.

In some embodiments, the method step e. can include that a securityoffice checks the baggage manually prior to removing said baggage and/orpersonal items from said single-use inlay. Preferably, the inlay stayconnected to said x-ray tray during this checking. It is also possiblethat the baggage and/or personal items is scanned a second time prior toremoving said baggage and/or personal items.

Hereinafter a kit of parts according to the disclosure is described.Although various combinations of single-use inlays and X-ray trays arein principle suitable for the above described method, in variousembodiments in step b. the detachable single-use inlay and the X-raytray is said kit of parts as described hereinafter. It was found thatsaid kit of parts combines well with the method and provides improvedresults. It should be noted that in step b. the single-use inlay isattached to the X-ray tray. For the kit of parts it is also possiblethat the single-use inlay may be attached to the X-ray tray. However, itis furthermore possible to provide them separately as kit of parts,wherein the user has to attach the single-use inlay when the kit ofparts is made use of for its intended purpose.

The present disclosure also relates to a kit of parts that comprises adetachable single-use inlay and an X-ray tray, in particular an X-raytray adapted for a security check at an airport or other publicfacility, the detachable single-use inlay comprising an, in particularflexible, paper and/or polymer layer having an outer side and an innerside, in particular wherein the paper and/or polymer layer has anessentially circumferential fringe area adapted to grasp and/or coverthe edges of said X-ray tray.

According to some embodiments of said kit of parts, the detachablesingle-use inlay comprises a protective cover and has a compressed statein which the paper and/or polymer layer is compressed, in particularfolded and/or detached from the X-ray tray, within said protectivecover, and a decompressed state, in which the paper and/or polymer layeris decompressed, in particular unfolded and/or attached to said X-raytray. It is, in one embodiment of the method, envisioned that prior tostep b., in particular between steps a. and b., the single-use inlay isdecompressed in the above-described manner.

Said protective cover may also comprise a second paper and/or polymerlayer or even a third paper and/or polymer layer. If multiple X-raytrays are made use of, it is beneficial to have more paper and/orpolymer layers.

In said compressed state, the length and width of the single-use inlaymay be reduced by at least 50%, in particular by at least 75%,preferably by at least 90% compared to its size when expanded.Alternatively or additionally, in said compressed state, the length andwidth may be smaller than 10 cm, preferably smaller than 5 cm. Thethickness of said single-use inlay in the compressed state is preferablybelow 3 cm or even below 1 cm. Compression is usually achieved byfolding the paper and/or polymer layer, e.g., a compression of 50% mayachieved by folding it once. To achieve a compression of 90%, multiplefolding may be necessary. Also the size can be reduced by simplycrumpling the paper and/or polymer layer. If the length and width of thesingle-use inlay is referred to, then this means the length and width inits current state, i.e., a single-use inlay comprising a folded paperand/or polymer layer has a smaller length and width than when said paperand/or polymer layer is fully expanded.

Said protective cover of the kit of parts may have substantiallyrectangular dimensions when the single-use inlay is in the compressedstate. The protective cover may be a plastic bag comprising the paperand/or polymer layer, in particular a gastight plastic bag.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts of the present disclosure, theprotective cover may be attached to the paper and/or polymer layer. Thisis not always necessary, but may facilitate disposal of said protectivecover. Once the single-use inlay is discarded, e.g., in a waste bin forrecycling, the protective cover is automatically recycled with the paperand/or polymer layer. In other embodiments, the paper and/or polymerlayer is separated from the protective cover and they may be disposed oftogether or separately.

In some further embodiments of the kit of parts, the protective cover isformed from the same material as the paper and/or polymer layer. This isparticularly suitable, when recycling of the waste is intended. In saidcase recycling is facilitated.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the entire single-use inlayconsists of one single material. Said material may be one of thepolymers discussed in this disclosure. It may also be a paper material.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay maycomprise an imprint, such as a trade mark of a producer or a logo.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, in the compressed state thepaper and/or polymer layer is vacuum-packed within the protective cover.This reduces the amount of contamination within the protective cover.Many pathogenic agents need air and/or water to survive and remaininfective. Also, if the protective cover is opened or a seal of theprotective cover is broken, air enters and the vacuum is destroyed. Thiscan be visibly observed by an expansion of the single-use inlay and thesurrounding protective cover. The user gets a warning if the single-useinlay is not safe to use any more due to possible contamination of theinner side of said single-use inlay.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts in the compressed state, thepaper and/or polymer layer is contained in a gastight protective cover.Said gastight protective cover may be used to maintain a vacuum.However, it is also possible to use a gas, e.g., an inert gas orpurified pathogen free air, to prevent any contamination of the interiorof the protective cover, i.e., of the single-use inlay within theprotective cover.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the paper and/or polymer layeris a non-adhesive detachable layer that is attachable by stretching saidessentially circumferential fringe area over the edges of said X-raytray. It was found that this provides a quick and secure attachment. Ifthe attachment is not sufficiently secure, there is a danger that theprotective cover will detach and the interior may be contaminated bypathogenic agents on the surface of the X-ray tray. Also this way ofattachment usually can be applied very fast. At security checks, a highnumber of people have to be processed and the transfer of baggage and/orpersonal items within X-ray trays is a bottleneck for the numbers ofpeople that are checked per minute. It is in some situations crucialthat the single-use inlay can be applied as fast as possible, i.e.,within a few seconds. A similar principle is known from bed sheets,where fitted sheets can be applied faster than regular sheets.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts the paper and/or polymer layeris a non-textile layer. It may be that the paper and/or polymer layer isa paper layer. Said paper layer may have a thickness of less than 100μm. Also a polymer layer is possible. Said polymer layer may be anelastic layer. It may also have a thickness of less than 100 μm.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the paper and/or polymer layeris watertight. This prevents a transfer of contaminated liquid form theX-ray tray to the baggage and/or personal items disposed on thesingle-use inlay.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay has anopening. The shape of said opening may be defined by the essentiallycircumferential fringe area. The opening may be elastic and in someembodiments can change its size to fit over a circumferential edge ofsaid X-ray tray.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay may clutchthe X-ray tray due to its elastic properties, in particular due to anelastic band and/or an elastic paper and/or polymer layer.

The X-ray trays may in some embodiments have a width of 30 to 50 cm anda length of 40 to 60 cm, wherein the length is preferably at least 5 to10 cm larger than the width. In some embodiments the height is 6 to 20cm, in particular 7.5 to 15 cm. The single-use inlay may be adapted tofit multiple sizes, in particular the aforementioned dimensions.

The X-ray tray may contain an RFID card.

The X-ray tray may be injection-molded.

The X-ray tray may consist to at least 90% (w/w), in particular to atleast 95% (w/w), of a polymer composition. In some embodiments,polypropylene is a preferred material for said X-ray tray.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the polymer layer comprises oris a polymer foil made of polyethylene or polypropylene, preferablychlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay may have atotal weight of less than 100 g, in particular less than 25 g,preferably less than 10 g. It was found that very little material isrequired for a sufficient protection barrier.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the paper and/or polymer layermay have an average material strength of 10 to 200 μm, preferably of 20to 100 μm, particularly preferred of 30 to 70 μm.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the essentially circumferentialfringe area comprises an elastic band. The elastic band may comprise thesame material as the polymer layer. It also may be made from latex orany other suitable material. Said elastic band may be used to ensure atight grasp at or below the edges of the X-ray tray.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the paper and/or polymer layeris coated on the outer and/or inner side, in particular on the innerside, with an antibacterial composition and/or an antibacterialcomposition is part of the material of the paper and/or polymer layer.

In some embodiments, the paper and/or polymer layer may be transparentfor X-rays. A transparency for X-ray helps in recognizing and scanningof baggage and/or personal items within the single-use inlay.

Alternatively or additionally, the paper and/or polymer layer may thetransparent for visible light. This helps a security office to verifythat no hidden objects are arranged below the single-use inlay.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay is made ofat least 90% (w/w), in particular of at least 95% % (w/w), of a flexiblefilm material, in particular the polymer or/paper layer. It may be thatthe single-use inlay is made of at least 90% (w/w), in particular of atleast 95% % (w/w), of said polymer film, wherein the polymer film is aflexible polymer film. It may also be that the single-use inlay is madeup entirely from said flexible film material, in particular said polymerand/or paper layer.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay issingle-layered or comprises an area that constitutes at least 55% of thetotal area of the single-use inlay that is single-layered. Theessentially circumferential fringe area may also surround asingle-layered area of the single-use inlay, wherein the essentiallycircumferential fringe area may be single layered as well or may havemore than one layer.

In some embodiments of the kit of parts, the single-use inlay has anouter side and/or inner side that is skid-resistant. Said outer sideand/or inner side may comprise patterns or grooves, e.g., a diamondpattern or concentric grooves.

Various embodiments of the kit of parts were described above. However,the disclosure also relates to a single-use inlay as described above assuch, i.e., without the X-ray tray as comprised in said kit of parts.The present disclosure relates to a detachable single-use inlay for anX-ray tray of a security check at an airport or other public facility,comprising an, in particular flexible, paper and/or polymer layer havingan outer side and an inner side, wherein the paper and/or polymer layerhas an essentially circumferential fringe area adapted to grasp and/orcover the edges of said X-ray tray. Said single-use inlays may beprovided in packages of 50 to 10 000 units, e.g., transport boxes,wherein said boxes have an oval, rectangular or circular opening in atleast one side through which the single-use inlays may be removed.

The present disclosure also relates to the use of a single-use inlay asdescribed above to prevent the transfer of pathogenic agents from anX-ray tray of a security check to baggage and/or personal items.

The present disclosure also relates to a kit of parts wherein at leastone metal organic framework (MOF) is provided on said outer side and/oron said inner side, in particular on said inner side, adapted andarranged to detect at least one explosive or any other hazardouscompound and/or wherein at least one metal organic framework (MOF) isprovided on said outer side and/or on said inner side adapted andarranged to detect at least one drug, in particular cocaine, heroin,cannabis, or the like.

According to another embodiment of the kit of parts according to thepresent disclosure, the at least one metal organic framework is providedon said outer side and/or on said inner side by way of printing, inparticular using a transparent dye. And, it is also possible that saidpaper and/or polymer layer is provided on its outer side and/or on itsinner side, in particular on its inner side, with another layer, inparticular polymer layer, comprising at least one metal organicframework. Moreover, said paper and/or polymer layer can also beprovided on its outer side and/or on its inner side, in particular onits inner side, with an, in particular transparent, coating comprisingat least one metal organic framework. Further, according to anotherembodiment, said paper and/or polymer layer can be provided on its outerside and/or on its inner side, in particular on its inner side, with an,in particular transparent, sticker comprising at least one metal organicframework.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one metal organicframework of the kit of parts can be adapted and arranged to provide acolor signal under visible, UV or IR light once it has captured anexplosive, any other hazardous compound, or a drug. Thus, in someembodiments of the kit of parts, the MOF layer changes its color, inparticular under UV light, as soon as coming into contact withexplosives and/or drugs or their deposition materials. The intoxicantsor drugs or explosives release characteristic volatile substances, forexample VOCs, into the ambient air. The MOFS are inlaid and aligned toabsorb these volatile substances into their coarse-meshed framework and,if necessary, to complex them. A color change may occur.

With the above-described embodiments of the kit of parts according tothe present disclosure, the illicit transport of explosives, otherhazardous compounds, and/or drugs can already be detected when baggageand/or personal items are placed on a detachable single-use inlay placedon an X-ray tray, in particular an X-ray tray adapted for a securitycheck at an airport or other public or private facility.

The disclosure also relates to the use of a single-use inlay asdescribed above during X-ray screening in an airport of baggage and/orpersonal items disposed in the X-ray tray on the single-use inlay, inparticular when used to prevent the transfer of pathogenic agents froman X-ray tray of a security check to baggage and/or personal items andto prevent the illicit transport of explosives and/or drugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic top down view of a security check at anairport;

FIG. 2 shows a user who applies the detachable single-use inlay at asecurity check;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an X-ray tray as used at a securitycheck at an airport;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a detachablesingle-use inlay;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a detachablesingle-use inlay;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a detachable single-use inlay with apaper layer and a MOF layer;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a detachablesingle-use inlay;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a detachablesingle-use inlay attached to X-ray tray as used at a security check atan airport;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a compressed state in which the paperand/or polymer layer is compressed within an protective cover; and

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the method for security inspection ofbaggage and/or personal items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a security check 200 at an airport. Apassenger 400 may take an X-ray tray 100 from a staple, places it on thedesk 204 and attach the single-use inlay 1. FIG. 1 shows the situationof the next step, wherein the X-ray tray 100 with the attachedsingle-use inlay 1 and containing personal items 500 on said inlay 1 isplaced on the conveyor belt 201 that goes into the X-ray baggage scanner202. A security officer 401 scans another X-ray tray 100 comprisingbaggage 501 using X-rays. The single-use inlay is not visible as X-raysare not impeded by the single-use inlay of this embodiment. A leavingconveyor belt 203 may transport each X-ray tray 100 out of said X-raybaggage scanner.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a security check 200 at an airport,wherein a passenger 400 is shown, who starts to attach a single-useinlay 1 having an essentially circumferential fringe area 5 to theforemost X-ray tray 100. During this procedure, the X-ray tray 100 maybe placed on a table 204. Once the single-use inlay 1 is attached andbaggage and/or personal items have been filled into the X-ray tray 100,it is transported through the X-ray baggage scanner 202 using conveyorbelts 201 and 203. In FIG. 7 it can be seen how the single-use inlay 1looks like once it has been attached by said passenger 400.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an X-ray tray 100 having side walls102, a bottom 103, and a protruding circumferential edge 101. Said sidewalls 102 and the bottom 103 define a deposition area 104. The X-raytray 100 has an exterior side 105 and an interior side 106.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a single-use inlay 1 which isdecompressed and detached from any X-ray tray. Said detachablesingle-use inlay 1 for an X-ray tray comprises a polymer layer 2 havingan outer side 3 and an inner side 4, wherein the polymer layer 2 has anessentially circumferential fringe area 5 adapted to grasp and/or coverthe edges of an X-ray tray as shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment maycomprise an elastic polymer layer.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a single-use inlay which isdecompressed and detached from any X-ray tray. Said detachablesingle-use inlay 1 for an X-ray tray comprises a paper layer 2 having anouter side (not shown) and an opposing inner side 4, wherein the paperlayer 2 has an essentially circumferential fringe area 5 adapted tograsp and/or cover the edges of an X-ray tray as shown in FIG. 3. Withinthe embodiment of FIG. 5, folding lines 9 separate the bottom from theside walls and folding lines 8 define the essentially circumferentialfringe area 5. This embodiment is non-elastic.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a single-use inlay which isdecompressed and detached from any X-ray tray. Said detachablesingle-use inlay 1 for an X-ray tray comprises a paper layer 2 having anouter side (not shown) and an opposing inner side 4 and a MOF layer 12on top of the paper layer 2. Both layers, the paper layer 2 and the MOFlayer 12, have an essentially circumferential fringe area 5 adapted tograsp and/or cover the edges of an X-ray tray as shown in FIG. 3. Withinthe embodiment of FIG. 5, folding lines 9 separate the bottom from theside walls and folding lines 8 define the essentially circumferentialfringe area 5.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a single-use inlay 1 which isdecompressed and detached from any X-ray tray. Said detachablesingle-use inlay 1 for an X-ray tray comprises a polymer layer 2 havingan outer side 3 and an inner side 4, wherein the polymer layer 2 has anessentially circumferential fringe area 5 adapted to grasp and/or coverthe edges of an X-ray tray as shown in FIG. 3. Said essentiallycircumferential fringe area 5 comprises an elastic band 7, which isintegrated into the fringe area.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a detachable single-use inlay 1within an X-ray tray 100, wherein the polymer layer 2 has an essentiallycircumferential fringe area 5 that grasps and covers the edge 101 ofsaid X-ray tray 100. Said X-ray tray 100 has side walls 102, a bottom103 and a protruding circumferential edge 101.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a protective cover 6 in which thepaper and/or polymer layer of the single-use inlay 1 may be folded orcrumpled in a compressed state, e.g., compressed by removing all airfrom within the protective cover 6. The protective cover 6 may be a bagcontaining the paper and/or polymer layer on the inside. The protectivecover 6 may comprise welding seams 11. It may also comprise weakenedzones 10 for opening the protective cover 6.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a method for security inspection ofbaggage and/or personal items according to the disclosure. Said methodcomprises the steps of 301 providing an X-ray tray having a depositionarea; 302 attaching a single-use inlay to said X-ray tray to cover saiddeposition area, 303 putting the baggage and/or personal items onto thesingle-use inlay, in particular without direct contact to the X-raytray; 304 X-ray scanning said baggage and/or personal items disposed insaid X-ray tray, wherein the X-ray tray is moved by at least one beltconveyor into and out of the scanning area; 305 removing the baggageand/or personal items from said single-use inlay; 306 detaching saidsingle-use inlay from the X-ray tray; 307 disposing of said single-useinlay, in particular in a waste container; and 308 burning saidsingle-use inlay or 309 recycling said single-use inlay.

The features of the disclosure disclosed in the above description, theclaims and the drawings can be essential, both individually and in anycombination, to implement the disclosure in its various embodiments.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications, and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications, and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for security inspection of baggageand/or personal items, the method comprising: a. providing an X-ray trayhaving a deposition area; b. attaching a flexible and/or elasticsingle-use inlay to the X-ray tray to cover the deposition area, thesingle-use inlay comprising a flexible polymer layer having an outerside and an inner side, wherein the polymer layer has an essentiallycircumferential fringe area adapted to grasp and/or cover the edges ofsaid X-ray tray, wherein the essentially circumferential fringe areacomprises an elastic band and the polymer layer is secured to the X-raytray by stretching the polymer layer over an edge of said X-ray tray,wherein the polymer layer contracts at or below said edge on an exteriorside of the X-ray tray; c. putting the baggage and/or personal itemsonto the single-use inlay without direct contact to the X-ray tray; d.X-ray scanning the baggage and/or personal items disposed in the X-raytray, wherein the X-ray tray is moved by at least one belt conveyor intoand out of the scanning area; e. removing the baggage and/or personalitems from the single-use inlay; and f. detaching the single-use inlayfrom the X-ray tray, wherein at least one metal organic framework (MOF)adapted and arranged to detect at least one explosive or other hazardouscompound is provided on the outer side and/or on the inner side of thesingle-use inlay, and/or wherein at least one metal organic framework(MOF) adapted and arranged to detect at least one drug is provided onthe outer side and/or on the inner side of the single-use inlay.
 2. Themethod for security inspection according to claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises g. disposing of the single-use inlay in a wastecontainer; and/or h. crushing, melting, and/or shredding of thesingle-use inlay.
 3. The method for security inspection according toclaim 1, wherein in step b. the detachable single-use inlay and theX-ray tray is a kit of parts comprising the detachable single-use inlayand the X-ray tray.
 4. The method for security inspection according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one metal organic framework is provided onthe outer side of the single-use inlay, and/or wherein the at least onedrug is selected from the group consisting of cocaine, heroin, andcannabis.
 5. The method for security inspection according to claim 1,wherein: the at least one metal organic framework is provided on theouter side and/or on the inner side by way of printing, or the paperand/or polymer layer is provided on its outer side and/or on its innerside with another layer comprising the at least one metal organicframework, or the paper and/or polymer layer is provided on its outerside and/or on its inner side with a coating comprising the at least onemetal organic framework, or the paper and/or polymer layer is providedon its outer side and/or on its inner side, with a sticker comprisingthe at least one metal organic framework.
 6. The method for securityinspection according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal organicframework, once it has captured an explosive, other hazardous compound,or a drug, is adapted and arranged to provide a color signal undervisible, UV, or IR light.
 7. A kit of parts comprising a detachablesingle-use inlay and an X-ray tray, the detachable single-use inlaycomprising a paper and/or polymer layer having an outer side and aninner side, wherein at least one metal organic framework (MOF) adaptedand arranged to detect at least one explosive or other hazardouscompound is provided on the outer side and/or on the inner side of thedetachable single-use inlay, and/or wherein at least one metal organicframework (MOF) adapted and arranged to detect at least one drug isprovided on the outer side and/or on the inner side of the detachablesingle-use inlay.
 8. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein thedetachable single-use inlay comprises a protective cover and has acompressed state in which the paper and/or polymer layer is compressedwithin the protective cover, as well as a decompressed state in whichthe paper and/or polymer layer is decompressed.
 9. The kit of partsaccording to claim 8, wherein in the compressed state the length andwidth of the single-use inlay is reduced by at least 50% and/or whereinin the compressed state the length and width is smaller than 10 cm. 10.The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the paper and/or polymerlayer is a non-adhesive detachable layer that is attachable bystretching an essentially circumferential fringe area over edges of theX-ray tray.
 11. The kit of parts according to claim 10, wherein theessentially circumferential fringe area comprises an elastic band and/orthe polymer layer is an elastic polymer layer.
 12. The kit of partsaccording to claim 7, wherein the paper and/or polymer layer iswatertight.
 13. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein thepolymer layer comprises or is a polymer foil made of polyethylene orpolypropylene or an ethylene copolymer or a propylene copolymer.
 14. Thekit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the paper and/or polymerlayer has an average material thickness of 10 to 200 μm.
 15. The kit ofparts according to claim 7, wherein the paper and/or polymer layer iscoated on the outer and/or inner side with an antibacterial composition,and/or wherein an antibacterial composition is part of the material ofthe paper and/or polymer layer.
 16. The kit of parts according to claim7, wherein the paper and/or polymer layer is transparent for X-raysand/or visible light.
 17. The kit of parts according to claim 7, whereinthe at least one metal organic framework is provided on the outer sideof the single-use inlay, and/or wherein the at least one drug isselected from the group consisting of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis. 18.The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein: the at least one metalorganic framework is provided on the outer side and/or on the inner sideby way of printing, or the paper and/or polymer layer is provided on itsouter side and/or on its inner side with another layer comprising the atleast one metal organic framework, or the paper and/or polymer layer isprovided on its outer side and/or on its inner side with a coatingcomprising the at least one metal organic framework, or the paper and/orpolymer layer is provided on its outer side and/or on its inner sidewith a sticker comprising the at least one metal organic framework. 19.The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the at least one metalorganic framework is adapted and arranged to provide a color signalunder visible, UV, or IR light once it has captured an explosive, otherhazardous compound, or a drug.
 20. The kit of parts according to claim7, wherein the paper and/or polymer layer has an essentiallycircumferential fringe area adapted to grasp and/or cover edges of theX-ray tray.
 21. A detachable single-use inlay for use with an X-ray trayin a security inspection of baggage and/or personal items, comprising: apaper and/or polymer layer having an outer side and an inner side thatis sized and arranged for attachment to an X-ray tray to cover adeposition area of the X-ray tray, wherein at least one metal organicframework (MOF) adapted and arranged to detect at least one explosive orother hazardous compound is provided on the outer side and/or on theinner side of the paper and/or polymer layer, and/or wherein at leastone metal organic framework (MOF) adapted and arranged to detect atleast one drug is provided on the outer side and/or on the inner side ofthe paper and/or polymer layer.
 22. Use of a single-use inlay accordingto claim 21 to detect at least one explosive, other hazardous compound,and/or at least one drug with baggage and/or personal items placed in anX-ray tray of a security check.